d be more quiet, and it will give us a better lookout on the forward
deck. Won't you invite me to go there with you?"

"But papa--if he should look for us here?"

"I will send him a message. Ah, here's Mr. Allyne--have you come to
tell us something?" for there was a desperate look in the young man's'
face that startled her.

"No, only--good-by! They need more help below, and I am going down.
You have these young ladies in charge, Madam?"

"Yes. And tell their father he will find the three of us in his own
cabin when he needs us." Her eyes, sharp and imperative, questioned
him--"Is there great danger?" But she did not speak.

He bowed gravely, and said, as if in response to her request. "I will
tell him." Then, as Hope followed the lady, he gently intercepted her.
"Please shake hands once more," he said, and with out a word she laid
her icy palm to his.

He bowed over it respectfully.

"God bless you for the good, pure girl you are! Good-by."

He hurried out and Hope, dazed and dumb, followed the others. They
found the little room, where they had passed so many homelike hours,
sadly demoralized. One of the great windows was shivered to splinters,
and through it projected a heavy spar, now safely wedged from further
harm, and as they gazed out through the other great panes, it was upon
a scene of intense desolation. The deck was quite empty, all the crew
being busy below, but it was one mass of broken timbers, fallen sails,
and all the debris of a half-wrecked vessel. But as the fresh air met
their faces, it braced them to new courage, and each looked curiously
about.

Above, the sky was already clearing and the ragged-edged clouds were
rolling northwards, leaving clear spaces which rapidly enlarged. The
sea, black and turbulent, still rolled heavily, but with diminishing
motion, and its spray made everything damp about them. Turning on the
lights, Lady Moreham said briskly, "We must have a blanket, or
something, to shut out the storm. Where will I find one?"

"Right in our room--I'll get it," said Faith, feeling safer and better
already in the home-like place, and soon the open window was well
covered, the chairs wiped out and drawn close together, and Hope sank
into one, Texas still clutching her wrist, with a long sigh of
satisfaction.

"It _seems_ safer here, anyhow!" she murmured. "If papa could only be
with us!"

The lady smiled.

"And I was just thinking how glad I was that he is n